Podcasts about national organizer

The National Organizer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) who doubles as the Board Chair of the Buffer Stock Company, Henry Nana Boakye, has refuted claims that students in senior high schools have been served unwholesome meals.

Former EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu has been named as the new national organiser of the Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) party. The appointment comes after Shivambu's resignation from the EFF last week. MK has also announced its National High Command, which will be responsible for making key decisions for the party. The High Command consists of eight senior officials and 45 additional members. For more on this Elvis Presslin spoke to Political Analyst, Khanyi Magubane

National Organizer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Henry Nana Boakye has accused the NDC of supporting the independent parliamentary candidate at the Ejisu constituency

Here are the most prominent News Highlights of Sri Lanka. Manoj Udatiyawala reports - SBS සිංහල සේවය ගෙනෙන "මවුබිමෙන් පුවත්" - මාධ්‍යවේදී මනෝජ් උදටියාවල ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිට වාර්තා කරයි

GORDON CHANG, Contributor, Gatestone Institute, Newsweek, Author, “The Coming Collapse of China,” “Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes the World, “Losing South Korea,” and “The Great US-China Tech War,” @Gordongchang What kind of data does TikTok provide to China? Various forms of propaganda being promoted on TikTok Legislation being discussed in Congress to dissociate TikTok from China How would a ban of TikTok impact other U.S. social media companies? Does the First Amendment apply to TikTok? PETER MCILVENNA, National Organizer, Hearts of Oak Assessing the current U.K. relationship with Israel Arrests of anti-Hamas protesters in the U.K. DAVID WURMSER, Senior Analyst for Middle East Affairs, Center for Security Policy, former Middle East Advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, retired, US Navy Reserves Lieutenant Commander Why is the U.S. building a new port in Gaza? A “food distribution” issue caused by Hamas Will the new port help ultimately defeat Hamas?

Here are Sri Lanka's Weekly Political Highlights. Journalist, News, and current affairs, Manoj Udatiyawala reports from Sri Lanka - SBS සිංහල සේවය සෑම සඳුදා දිනකම ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ සිට තොරතුරු ගෙන එන මාධ්‍යවේදී මනෝජ් උදටියාවල සමඟ ඔබ වෙත ගෙන එන 'සතියේ ශ්‍රී ලාංකීය දේශපාලන පුවත්' සමාලෝචනයට සවන්දෙන්න

Join leading Palestine solidarity activists for a discussion of the role of BDS in solidarity with Palestine. Israel's attack on the 2.3 million Palestinians in the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip has been described by genocide scholars, international law experts and UN officials as “a textbook case of genocide.” Israel's bombardment of Gaza has killed thousands, including over 3,500 children, and destroyed entire neighborhoods, leaving over one million Palestinians displaced. In parallel, Palestinians are being dehumanized and Palestine solidarity is being targeted internationally. It is crucial for all people of conscience to find practical ways to struggle against the root causes of the violence: oppression and injustice. Launched in 2005, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement is backed by Palestinian grassroots movements, unions, and political parties. BDS calls for an end to international state, corporate and institutional complicity in Israel's regime of oppression so that Palestinians can enjoy their rights. The BDS movement is inspired by the South African anti-apartheid struggle and the US Civil Rights movement, rooted in a century-old heritage of Palestinian popular resistance to settler colonialism and apartheid. BDS has taken the forms of worker strikes, mass demonstrations, public diplomacy, art, and education. As we protest ongoing Israeli war crimes, we must also act to end our own government's complicity in Israeli apartheid. BDS provides the means to exert meaningful material pressure on state and private actors complicit in Israel's violence. Read the Palestinian Civil Society Call for BDS: https://bdsmovement.net/call Speakers: Omar Barghouti is a Palestinian human rights defender and co-founder of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights. He is a co-recipient of the 2017 Gandhi Peace Award. He holds a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University, NY, and is pursuing a PhD in Philosophy (ethics) at the University of Amsterdam. He is the author of, BDS: The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights (Haymarket: 2011). Stefanie Fox, MPH (she/her) is the Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a grassroots membership organization that organizes and mobilizes hundreds of thousands of Jews and allies into solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle and a vision of Judaism beyond Zionism. Stefanie joined JVP in 2009 as the organization's first National Organizer (when the organization had six chapters and a few hundred members) and played multiple roles as part of the team that grew the organization into the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world. Olivia Katbi is an organizer with the BDS Movement and is based in Portland, Oregon. She served as the North America coordinator for the Palestinian-led BDS Movement from 2019 to 2022, where she led and supported BDS campaigning across the US and Canada, helping to win several major BDS campaigns, including campaigns targeting G4S, General Mills, and Ben & Jerry's. She also organizes with the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, where she served as co-chair from 2017-2021. Moderated by Jason Farbman This event is sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace and Haymarket Books and is part of Until Liberation: A Series for Palestine by Haymarket Books, cosponsored by Palestinian American Organizations Network, Mondoweiss, Spectre, Dissenters, Tempest, Palestine Deep Dive, The New Arab, and more. Watch the live event recording: https://youtube.com/live/ArBdHIyPj5A Buy books from Haymarket: www.haymarketbooks.org Follow us on Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/haymarketbooks

  Clement speaks to Penny Campbell, the Director for the Food Control Unit at the National Department of Health, Matlou Setati, the Executive for Food Safety and Sustainability at the Consumer Goods Council and Thusi Jackal, the National Organizer for SA Informal Traders Alliance about the rampant sale of fake foods and counterfeit goods.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the show we're featuring an episode of our Building for Digital Equity podcast, with Brandon Forester - the National Organizer for Internet Rights at Media Justice - joining Christopher to talk about helping communities build more agency over how technology shows up in their neighborhoods and among the digital communities they create for themselves.   ★ Support this podcast ★

SBS Sinhala Radio discussion with Mr. Tissa Attanayake, National Organizer of Samagi Jana Balavegaya, about the opposition's opinion on the current political situation in Sri Lanka - ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ වර්තමාන දේශපාලනික තත්වය පිළිබඳව විපක්ෂයේ මතය සම්බන්දයෙන් ඕස්ට්‍රේලියාවේ මෙල්බර්න් පැමිණි සමගි ජන බලවේගයේ ජාතික සංවිධායක තිස්ස අත්තනායක මහතා සමඟ SBS සිංහල සේවය සිදුකල සාකච්චාවට සවන්දෙන්න

In this episode, Forrest talks with Tori Goebel, National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. YECA works to mobilize youth to act against climate change, to advocate for creation care, and to promote the hope among young people that a better climate future is possible.Guest: Tori Goebel, National organizer and spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action LinkedIn Twitter Mentions Atlantic Coast Pipeline Mountain Valley Pipeline Evangelical Environmental Network Katharine Hayhoe Genesis 2:15, Psalm 19, Romans 1:20 Mercury and Air Toxics Standard Yale's Six Americas The Supper of the Lamb YECA Leadership Programs YECA Take Action National Prayer Breakfast YECA Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube YECA Blog IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Keywords: climate crisis, climate change, nature, creation, faith, evangelism, Christian, values, climate action, sanctity of life, politics, partisan identity, generational divide, mercury, air quality, communication, creation care, eco anxiety, eco grief, accountability, support, community, fear, hope, love Find us on our website: Circlewood.Donate here to Earthkeepers Podcast. Join the Stand.

Brandon Forester is the National Organizer for Internet Rights at Media Justice. We talk about organizing for digital equity and more specifically Brandon's vision for communities having agency over how technology shows up in their neighborhoods and digital communities. We discuss how Media Justice came to prioritize prison phone justice, what organizing is and how local solutions may differ in different communities, and the need to avoid purity politics in doing this work. 

(Airdate 3/13/23) Antoinette Scully is currently a National Organizer for the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation, a faith-based nonprofit that centers the justice needs of women and femmes. She co-founded the Valley Justice Coalition, an organization that creates justice projects centered in the San Fernando Valley and is a co-founder of the comprehensive sexual health education nonprofit, More Than Sex-Ed. She also serves as the Social Justice Chairperson at the First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles. https://www.antoinetteforla.com/

10K people a day pass the 60-year mark. There's no way to make the changes needed to protect our planet and society unless we bring our power into play. Here's my conversation with BOB FULKERSON, Lead National Organizer for THIRD ACT, the year-old organization founded by BILL McKIBBEN to mobilize Boomers and older to defend democracy and confront the Climate Crisis. Learn more at thirdact.org and join a National Day of Action 3/21/23. Deliver a message to big banks who fund fossil fuels & climate destruction.

When Nury Martinez resigned from the City Council in October, it left 270,000 residents of the east San Fernando Valley without representation.  The special election to fill the seat is April 4, and Mike is talking one-on-one with each of the candidates. In this episode, he talks with Antoinette Scully. She describes herself on her website as  Queer Black feminist, activist, writer, community organizer, and mother of two. She is also a faith-based National Organizer for the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation.Website: https://www.antoinetteforla.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/antoinetteforlaIG: @antoinetteforlaTwitter: @antoinetteforla

CHERYL CHUMLEY, Author, “Socialists Don't Sleep: Christians Must Rise or America Will Fall,” Opinion Editor, The Washington Times, Twitter: @ckchumley The recent Chinese surveillance balloon that traversed the United States How the media is doubling-down on trying to tie this balloon to Donald Trump Direct TV's decision to ban Newsmax from their service PETER MCILVENNA, National Organizer, Hearts of Oak A "Winter of Discontent" in the U.K. How has Brexit impacted the political battlefield in Britain? Ongoing energy issues across Britain BILL WALTON, Host, The Bill Walton Show The Biden administration's continued attempt to see China as a strategic partner, not an enemy Are China's COVID lockdowns impacting businesses who have employees in China?

CAPT. JAMES FANELL, Retired Intelligence Officer for the Indo-Pacific, US Navy, former National Security Affairs Fellow, Hoover Institute An analysis of the recent meeting between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin A history of the military relationship between China and Russia China's increased military actions towards Taiwan PETER MCILVENNA, National Organizer, Hearts of Oak Implications of the death of Queen Elizabeth II The energy crisis in the U.K. CHRISTINE DOUGLASS-WILLIAMS, Nine-time international award-winning journalist and television producer, Former federally appointed Director, Canadian Race Relations Foundation, Former Appointee, Office of Religious Freedom in Foreign Affairs, Author, “The Challenge of Modernizing Islam” The rise of Pierre Poilievre in Canada An increase in support for conservative politicians in Canada Massive protests taking place in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini

Feminist Question Time with speakers from USA and Australia Women's Declaration International (WDI) Feminist Question Time is our weekly online webinars. It is attended by a global feminist and activist audience of between 200-300. The main focus is how gender ideology is harming the rights of women and girls. You can see recordings of previous panels on our YouTube Channel. WDI is the leading  global organisation defending women's sex-based rights against the threats posed by gender identity ideology. There is more information on the website womensdeclaration.com where you will find our Declaration on Women's Sex-based rights, which has been signed by more 30,000 people from 157 countries and is supported by 418 organisations. This week's speakers: Amy E. Sousa - USA - This talk will focus on the events of Julie Jaman, 80 year old Port Townsend woman, who was banned from her local YMCA after asking a man to leave the women's locker room. After Julie was banned, the city responded by attempting to vilify Julie and announced a city wide "transgender proclamation" to be delivered at the 8/15 city council meeting. A permitted press conference event was organized by Sousa to directly address both Julie's ban from the pool as well as the city's proclamation. 35 women and a few men gathered to speak publicly and were protested by a violent mob of over 300 while police stood by and did not engage. The resulting press coverage has been international. Bio: Amy Sousa (aka @KnownHeretic on twitter) has been an active women's rights campaigner for the last 3 years, has organized rallies in Washington DC to protest Biden's executive order, has protested gender clinics in Seattle, the UN in NYC, protested men in women's sports against Lia Thomas at the NCAA championships in Atlanta, and most recently staged a press conference event in her hometown of Port Townsend, WA which has received international news coverage. She has testified on behalf of women & girls sex based rights in state legislatures and school board meetings. She holds an MA in depth psychology and leads workshops, classes, and individual coaching which focuses on embodied awareness. She has informational videos on her youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/KnownHeretic, and her other work an be found at: littleredreverberations.com Melinda Tankard Reist - Australia - Women's experience of Pornography, where she discusses her new book "He chose porn over me" T. (Lesbians United) - USA - Puberty Suppression: Medicine or Malpractice? - This talk is an overview of Lesbians United's research into puberty suppression, which is covered in-depth in our recent publication of the same name (find it at lesbians-united.org/resources.html). Bio: T. is the National Organizer of Lesbians United, a grassroots, lesbian-only organization that works to educate the public about homophobia, transgenderism, and the abuses being carried out by Big Med and Big Pharma. Disclaimer: Women's Declaration International (WDI) hosts a range of women from all over the world on Feminist Question Time (FQT) and Radical Feminist Perspectives (RFP) and on webinars hosted by country chapters – all have signed our Declaration or have known histories of feminist activism - but beyond that, we do not know their exact views or activism. WDI does not know in detail what they will say on webinars. The views expressed by speakers in these videos are not necessarily those of WDI and we do not necessarily support views or actions that speakers have expressed or engaged in at other times. As well as the position stated in our Declaration on Women's Sex-based Rights, WDI opposes sexism, racism and anti-semitism. For more information see our Frequently Asked Questions or email info@womensdeclaration.com For more information: www.womensdeclaration.com

The midterm elections are only 14 weeks away and there has been a lot going on in election news - primaries all over the country, campaigning, organizing, media narratives that may or may not be true… it's hard to keep track of it all.So this week we're doing a “road to the midterms” episode of the pod. Amanda Weinstein and Rachel Vindman are joined by guest hosts Jess McIntosh and Julie Collins. Jess is a political strategist and Julie is the National Organizer for Red Wine and Blue, so they are a wealth of knowledge to help us all understand what is going on with the midterms… and what is at stake.And before our delightful guest hosts leave, everyone raises a glass to park rangers, family time, and incredible young activist Olivia Julianna in this episode's “Toast to Joy.”If you're ready to join the Great Troublemaker Turnout, please sign up here. Suburban women are taking a stand - join us!For a transcript of this episode, please email theswppod@redwine.blue.

In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the TransLash Podcast with Imara Jones is republishing an episode about the importance of reproductive justice, including body autonomy, trans affirming medical care, and abortion access for trans people. Imara sits down with Adaku Utah, National Organizer with the National Network of National Abortion Access Funds and Jack Qu'emi Gutierrez whose story is featured in our Trans Bodies, Trans Choices, Trans Month of Visibility film series. And for trans joy we speak with JB from Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings.You can connect with us on social media!Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Twitter (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)Check out TransLash's trans-affirming guide to Roe v. Wade: https://translash.org/translashs-trans-affirming-guide-to-roe-v-wade/Follow our guests on social media!Jack Qu'emi Gutiérrez: @rabbitglitter (Instagram)Adaku Utah: @soularbliss (Instagram)Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings:https://www.badoulatrainings.org/TransLash Podcast is produced by Translash Media.Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Callie Wright. Our intern is Mirana Munson-Burke.Alexander Charles Adams does the sound editing for our show.Digital strategy by Daniela Capistrano.Music: Ben Draghi and ZZK records. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

SAM FADDIS, Former Clandestine Operations Officer, CIA, Former Congressional Candidate, Editor, ANDMagazine.com, Author, “Beyond Repair: The Decline and Fall of the CIA,” @RealSamFaddis Is China preparing for conflict with Taiwan? Increased division in American politics PETER MCILVENNA, National Organizer, Hearts of Oak The immigration problem in Europe "Grooming" taking place throughout Britain DR. MICHAELA DODGE, Research Scholar, National Institute for Public Policy, formerly worked at the Heritage Foundation from 2010-2019, former Senior Defense Policy Advisor, US Senator Jon Kyl: The strategic challenge China poses to the United States China's "underground" Great Wall of China The need for the U.S. to increase its missile defense system

National Organizer at CODEPINK, Danaka, joins me for the girliest episode of Busted Business Bureau: the multibillion dollar weapons company, Lockheed Martin! If you pay taxes, I promise this episode is about you. For a company that's been around so long, you think they'd build less stuff that caught on fire or less stuff that made Vermonter children lose control of their bowels. This one's got explosions, missed deadlines, a bit of the red scare, bribery, and the WHITE MAN'S CAUCUS, which I promise is just as funny as it sounds. Follow @wifeoftoast on twitter or @CODEPINK everywhere! PS, if you live in Chicago, Mike Quigley takes money from Lockheed Martin. Follow @DivestMike and tell him to cut it out! Footnotes: Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex, William D. Hartung Inside America’s Dysfunctional Trillion-Dollar Fighter-Jet Program, Valerie Insinna, New York Times 2019 Federal Contractors Are Violating Workers’ Rights and Harming the U.S. Government, Center for American Progress Report Sandia National Labs Bribery Scandal, Department of Justice Summary Lockheed Subsidiary (Tools and Metals) Overcharging Scheme, Jerry Seper, Washington Times 2000 Working for Equality: The Narrative of Harry Hudson, Harry Hudson Wikipedia List of Lockheed Bribery Scandals How Lockheed Martin Makes Money, Investopedia Nooses, Symbols of Race Hatred, At Center of Workplace Lawsuits, Sana Siwolap, NYT 2000 Lockheed's Latest Battle: Bias, Greg Schneider, NYT 2000 Remove Labels This Ramadan

Today on Sense of Soul Podcast we have. Rev. Dr. Patricia Keel, she is a Unity Minister, teacher of metaphysics and spiritual growth. Patricia's passion is to support people on their spiritual journey.  Patricia is a National Organizer and is very active supporting people in North America who wish to attend the courses at EKAM (Oneness University) in Southern India. She has traveled and taken groups to India 20 times in the past 15 years and continue to teach and work with the ancient mystical wisdom of her Indian teachers. Since March 2020, Patricia has lead a morning meditation group to help support her participants spiritual growth and wellbeing. In the recent best selling book, The Ultimate Guide to Self Healing VOL.5, Patricia was a contributing author and wrote Chapter 10, named, Divine Discontent: Finding Your True Self in Times of Transition; where   she shares her experiences and her “ABC, healing practice. Patricia joined us to share her unique awakening experience in she had in India on Dec. 12, 2012, and since then she has had so many more incredible experieces through her deep and transformational journey.  Patricia started a Unity church in Berkeley, CA in 2001-2013. Now is a speaker and teaches metaphysics and spiritual growth. She has a Doctorate in Ministry, focused on the Reinvention of Work - bringing spirituality into our work.  Prior to finding her spiritual path Patricia was a real estate broker. She overcame two divorces, a child who survived cancer, turned her pain into purpose and has 32 years of sobriety. You can join her meditation and the link below and visit her website to learn more about her coaching and meditations. All are welcome to join 8am Pac. Monday-Friday  Meditation & Deeksha https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5107599697 Password: ekam ABC Self-Healing PracticeA Simple 3-Step ProcessTo Help You Find Your True Self in Times of Transition To Listen to the Practice go to https://patriciakeel.com/abc-self-healing-practice/ Visit her website: https://patriciakeel.com/ For more information on Oneness University and the courses available go to www.onenessuniversity.org. Visit our website to learn more about us www.mysenseofsoul.com Join our Sense of Soul Patreon!! Our community of seekers and lightworkers who get exclusive workshops, 50% OFF Soul Immerfion session with Shanna, live events like SOS Sacred Circles, ad free episodes and more. You can also listen to Mande's mini series about her two NDE's and Shanna's Untangled mini series. Sign up today and help support our podcast. https://www.patreon.com/senseofsoul NEW!! SENSE OF SOUL'S NETWORK OF LIGHTWORKERS! Go check out our Affliates page, adding new amazing programs each month. Check it out! https://www.mysenseofsoul.com/sense-of-soul-affiliates-page

Feminist Question Time with speakers from USA Women's Declaration International (WDI) Feminist Question Time is our weekly online webinars. It is attended by a global feminist and activist audience of between 200-300. The main focus is how gender ideology is harming the rights of women and girls. You can see recordings of previous panels on our YouTube Channel. WDI is the leading global organisation defending women's sex-based rights against the threats posed by gender identity ideology. There is more information on the website womensdeclaration.com where you will find our Declaration on Women's Sex-based rights, which has been signed by more 30,000 people from 157 countries and is supported by 418 organisations. This week's speakers: Melissa Farley - Sexism, Gender Identity, and Prostitution: ‘trans' advocacy and ‘sexwork' advocacy are political movements rooted in sexual objectification Bio: Melissa Farley is a feminist research and clinical psychologist who founded Prostitution Research & Education in 1995. She and the organization and their many partners are celebrating their 50th peer reviewed publication on prostitution, trafficking, and pornography. T. (Lesbians United) - Playing Offense with Pro-Lesbian Language - Lesbians United recently released a messaging guide that equips women's and gay rights activists to fight back against sexism and homophobia more effectively using a positive, proactive messaging strategy. This talk will give a rationale for why women's rights activists should change their linguistic strategy, and explain how to go on the offense with more positive, proactive messaging. https://lesbians-united.org/resources.html Bio: T. is the founder and National Organizer of Lesbians United, a lesbian-only organization based in the U.S. Lesbians United advocates for the health and well-being of lesbians and girls who may grow up to be lesbians. Disclaimer: Women's Declaration International (WDI) hosts a range of women from all over the world on Feminist Question Time (FQT) and Radical Feminist Perspectives (RFP) and on webinars hosted by country chapters – all have signed our Declaration or have known histories of feminist activism - but beyond that, we do not know their exact views or activism. WDI does not know in detail what they will say on webinars. The views expressed by speakers in these videos are not necessarily those of WDI and we do not necessarily support views or actions that speakers have expressed or engaged in at other times. As well as the position stated in our Declaration on Women's Sex-based Rights, WDI opposes sexism, racism and anti-semitism. For more information see our Frequently Asked Questions or email info@womensdeclaration.com For more information: www.womensdeclaration.com

National Organizer for H.E.A.L. Together Asma Elhuni joins to talk about the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Anna Callahan, Director of Incorruptible Mass, talks about her strategy to keep progressive politicians from being corrupted. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As a critical Supreme Court ruling on abortion looms, this TransLash episode focuses on the importance of reproductive justice, including body autonomy, trans affirming medical care, and abortion access for trans people. Imara sits down with Adaku Utah, National Organizer with the National Network of National Abortion Access Funds and Jack Qu'emi Gutierrez whose story is featured in our Trans Bodies, Trans Choices, Trans Month of Visibility film series. And for trans joy we speak with JB from Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings.You can connect with us on social media!Follow TransLash Media @translashmedia on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.Follow Imara Jones on Twitter (@ImaraJones) and Instagram (@Imara_jones_)Follow our guests on social media!Jack Qu'emi Gutiérrez: @rabbitglitter (Instagram)Adaku Utah: @soularbliss (Instagram)Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings:https://www.badoulatrainings.org/TransLash Podcast is produced by Translash Media. Translash Team: Imara Jones, Oliver-Ash Kleine, Callie Wright. Our intern is Mirana Munson-Burke. Alexander Charles Adams does the sound editing for our show.Digital strategy by Daniela Capistrano. Music: Ben Draghi and ZZK records. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Commercial Stevedoring Agriculture and Allied Workers' Union have blamed labour brokers for the recent violence between Lesotho and Zimbabwean nationals at Nkqubela in Robertson, Western Cape. Last Thursday about 200 people, mostly women and children, were forced to evacuate the area and seek refuge at a local police station. Almost 20 people were injured and several homes looted. The union says the unrest was a direct result of labour rights violations in the agriculture sector, including the alleged exploitation of immigrant farmworkers and the use of labour brokers. CSAAWU has called on the government to intervene and meet with all stakeholders. Karl Swart, the National Organizer of the Commercial Stevedoring Agriculture and Allied Workers' Union (CSAAWU)

George Thomas, CBN's senior international correspondent, shares the latest developments on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mike Pompeo, former United States Secretary of State, discusses the latest on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and his upcoming visit to Taiwan. Maureen Steele, National Organizer of The People's Convoy, provides insight on the mission of the American Freedom Convoy and its current journey across the country. Ken Paxton, Texas Attorney General, talks about his recent legal declaration that transgender procedures on minors is child abuse. Travis Weber, FRC's Vice President for Policy & Government Affairs, unpacks the radical Abortion on Demand Act, which is deceptively titled the Women's Health Protection Act. Jack Hibbs, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California, shares how believers can respond to and pray for Ukraine. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/loving-liberty/support

In this segment of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Richard Becker, National Organizer for the ANSWER Coalition to discuss how the history of Ukraine and the Soviet Union and the western-backed color revolution in 2014 factor into the ongoing crisis over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the oil and gas interests that were behind the 2014 coup and which are benefited by the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the rise on oil prices, the corporate media's casting of Russia's invasion as a sudden and unprovoked event rather than acknowledging the complicity of the US and NATO in goading Russia into invasion with its drive to push NATO membership to states on Russia's border, and the crucial task of the anti-imperialist movement to oppose any NATO war or new sanctions against Russia.

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Richard Becker, National Organizer for the ANSWER Coalition to discuss how the history of Ukraine and the Soviet Union and the western-backed color revolution in 2014 factor into the ongoing crisis over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the oil and gas interests that were behind the 2014 coup and which are benefited by the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the rise on oil prices, the corporate media's casting of Russia's invasion as a sudden and unprovoked event rather than acknowledging the complicity of the US and NATO in goading Russia into invasion with its drive to push NATO membership to states on Russia's border, and the crucial task of the anti-imperialist movement to oppose any NATO war or new sanctions against Russia.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Miguel Garcia, host and creator of the Sports as a Weapon podcast to discuss the extension of the Ukraine crisis on the ice in a game between the Washington Capitals and Putin-supporter player Alexander Ovechkin and the New York Rangers player Artemi Panarin, who supports far-right Russian opposition figure Alexei Nalvany, the ongoing lockout of Major League Baseball players and the threat of owners to begin canceling regular season unless players and owners reach a new collective bargaining agreement this week, and the attempts by owners to manipulate public opinion among baseball fans against players fighting for fair working conditions.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Salifu Mack, an editor at Hood Communist and a member of the Lowcountry Action Committee and the Black Alliance for Peace to discuss efforts to provide an inclusive and revolutionary celebration of Black history through African Liberation Month, as opposed to the co-opted Black History Month, how the liberal and identarian character of Black History Month erases important liberation figures and the political character of Black memory and history, and why a focus on African liberation is so important in the era of mass incarceration, police terror, imperialist war, and more.Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of the book "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents" to discuss the platform given to Kiev-based freelance journalist Terrell Starr by mainstream media to spread ridiculous propaganda and provide cover for the right-wing takeover of Ukraine, the paternalistic coverage of Ukrainians by the mainstream media as helpless and in need of a western savior, and Joe Biden's decision to nominate Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court and what it highlights about representational politics.

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Sohrob Aslamy, a doctoral candidate at Syracuse University to discuss the theft of Afghanistan's frozen assets by the US government after Joe Biden announced that they would be split in half between the Afghan people and the families of victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the piecemeal attempts at the resolution of economic crises caused by the US invasion and occupation of Afghanistan through humanitarian aid, the efforts to strange the Afghan economy and force it to remain dependent on foreign aid, and how this theft and sanctions only hurt the Afghan people despite what Joe Biden says.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by technologist Chris Garaffa, the editor of TechforthePeople.org to discuss the growing surveillance infrastructure developed by Apple and other companies advertised as a means of finding lost items but features little regulation and can be easily used maliciously, the culture of acceptance around surveillance that has been inculcated within children partly as a result of pandemic schooling, Apple's anti-competitive practices forcing app developers to adopt its payment platform and the widespread adoption of this strategy across tech giants, and the recently revealed CIA collection of data from American citizens.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Sputnik News Analyst and transgender activist Morgan Artyukhina to discuss the wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced in state legislatures in 2022 and hoe those bills are taking inspiration from other right-wing bills that attack other marginalized groups, the historic weaponization of children against progressive causes like integration and how that same tactic is being used to push these bills, and how these attacks on LGBTQ people constitute an attack on all workers and present a false choice that must be met with solidarity. Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Ajamu Baraka, National Organizer of the Black Alliance for Peace to discuss how some elements of the western left gave in to corporate media propaganda regarding the 2014 coup in Ukraine and how some of those elements continue to fall for the demonization campaign against Russia as NATO and the US escalate tensions over Ukraine, how the attacks by the western press on Russia share similarities to the attacks against Ethiopia when it was the target of the US and allied forces, and Joe Biden's comments on the Ukraine crisis and the irony of his comments on protecting Ukraine's national sovereignty.

Ben Weir is a professional musician, Army infantry veteran, and liberty pioneer. Ben is a National Organizer of the Libertarian Party Veteran Caucus, LP Sacramento Secretary, Northern California Mises Caucus Organizer, and Founder of the Free Jefferson Project. He wants me to subtly let you know that he's buddy-buddy with Adam Kokesh; and since he truly is such a great friend and asset to the cause and to me, I'll give it to him. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/notareallibertarian/message

I recently had the opportunity to interview Iris for The Art of Money podcast, and I am so excited to share her insightful wisdom with you today. Her former roles include Social Justice Strategist at investment management firm Robasciotti & Philipson and National Organizer at Resource Generation, where she helped move over 10 million dollars to social justice organizations. In this profoundly moving conversation, Iris shares her own story of navigating unexpected wealth and loss and how we can deconstruct the ideals of capitalism to stand in the integrity of our own personal values to create a more equitable world. Find out more here: https://baritessler.com/podcast

Michael Lema is a National Organizer for the Libertarian Party Veteran Caucus. Michael was a SGT in the USMC, where he specialized in aircraft electronics and hand-to-hand combat. He also taught as an instructor at the Marine Corps' LCpl Seminar and Corporals Course. He has adjusted his diet and now eats his local city council candidates' hopes and dreams instead of crayons. www.lema4hayward.us --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/notareallibertarian/message

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Paki Wieland, volunteer with CODEPINK: Women for Peace to discuss the anniversary of the first detainees arriving at the Guantanamo Bay prison, the human impact of renditions to Guantanamo,the struggle for reparations for people who were detained at Guantanamo to alleviate the impact that their detention has had on their lives, and the obscene cost of maintaining the prison.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by international affairs and security analyst Mark Sleboda to discuss discussions between the US and Russia over NATO aggression in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, attempts to pull Ukraine into NATO since the overthrow of Ukraine's democratically-elected government in 2014, the misleading statements about Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian-Russian border, and the reality of the attempted coup in Kazakhstan.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by technologist Chris Garaffa, the editor of TechforthePeople.org to discuss Google's secret anti-union campaign and its profiting from human rights violations, the millions Google spent on anti-worker consultant firms, John Deere's new self-driving tractors and its role in the potential growth of agribusiness and threats they pose to the right to repair and ownership of data.Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Ajamu Baraka, National Organizer of the Black Alliance for Peace to discuss ongoing tension over Ukraine and what it means to Black people in the US, the extraordinary impact that aggression from NATO and the US over Ukraine could have on the entire world, how the Ukraine issue is conveniently acting as a diversion from the rampant spread of COVID-19 in the US, the commitment of alternative media to have conversations excluded from the mainstream media, especially on issues of imperialism.

On today's episode of Justicefighter Podcast, we join the conversation with National Organizer Porch'se Miller. She discusses the movement in Louisville, Brunswick, Atlanta, and Dothan Alabama. 

On today's episode of Justicefighter Podcast, we join the conversation with National Organizer Porch'se Miller. She discusses the movement in Louisville, Brunswick, Atlanta, and Dothan, Alabama. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/justice-media/support

In this episode of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Ajamu Baraka, National Organizer of the Black Alliance for Peace to discuss the shortcomings of liberal conceptions of human rights as the world recognizes human rights day, how the US defanged the declaration of human rights to assuage white fears of the civil rights movement, the necessity to decolonize and reconstruct the framework of human rights, and how people-centered human rights poses an ideological challenge to the capitalist system.In the second segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Karleigh Webb, an athlete, activist, journalist, socialist, contributor to @Outsports and host of the TransSporter Room to discuss the transphobic attacks against swimmer Lia Thomas, who recently set two conference records, how these attacks are not only transphobic but also misogynist by implying that women's sports are inferior to men's sports, and the danger that these attacks pit against future trans athletes and trans people.In the third segment, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Justin Williams, co-host of Red Spin Sports to discuss the diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics by the US, UK, Australia, and Canada as part of the cold war drive against China, the baseball hall of fame's snub of free agency and labor advocate Curt Flood and the continuation of his blackballing long after his death, and the induction of Nego League baseball players into the hall of fame.Later in the show, Sean and Jacquie are joined by Maximillian Alvarez, Editor in Chief of the Real News Network and and host of the podcast “Working People" to discuss the victory of Starbucks workers in Buffalo who have voted to unionize and how the pandemic has awoken the consciousness of workers to their power and ability to secure gains in the workplace, how the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the inequality exposed by it have fueled the great resignation and record job openings, the toxicity of common practice of calling work a family and how work often keeps workers from seeing their families, and how cultures of work and overwork and the broader capitalist system rob us of what makes us human.

In this segment of By Any Means Necessary, hosts Sean Blackmon and Jacquie Luqman are joined by Ajamu Baraka, National Organizer of the Black Alliance for Peace to discuss the shortcomings of liberal conceptions of human rights as the world recognizes human rights day, how the US defanged the declaration of human rights to assuage white fears of the civil rights movement, the necessity to decolonize and reconstruct the framework of human rights, and how people-centered human rights poses an ideological challenge to the capitalist system.

Environmental activists often focus on facts and data, as if more climate information will lead to more climate action. That strategy may be effective with some communities, but overall it hasn't prevented global emissions from climbing year after year or habitats from being destroyed day after day.Many folks in the environmental movement are thinking a lot about how to make messaging more effective. But it's not just the message we need to question—it's also the messenger.In the U.S., white evangelical Christians are not known for their strong support of environmental protections or for believing that humans are even causing climate change, but maybe they haven't had the right messengers.Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap is an evangelical Christian climate activist, which is not a combination of descriptors we often hear. Kyle has spent years building a movement of young messengers from within the evangelical community who speak a new language of creation care.He believes that Christians don't need to look any further than the Bible to become fierce and passionate advocates for ecological protection and climate action.Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap was National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action before becoming Vice President at the Evangelical Environmental Network.I met Kyle in 2019 at a week-long climate storytelling retreat in New York City. I was super excited to continue our conversation here and dive deeper into his own ecological awakening, what scripture says about caring for the environment, and how Christians and non-Christians alike can find common values and build power together to care for life on Earth across cultural lines that often divide us.You can listen on Substack, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.Please rate, review, and share to help us spread the word!Rev. Kyle Meyaard-SchaapRev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap serves as the Vice President of the Evangelical Environmental Network. He holds an undergraduate degree in religious studies from Calvin University (B.A. '12), a Master of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary (M.Div. '16), and is ordained in the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). Much of his professional experience has involved the integration of theology, science, and action toward a deeper awareness of the Christian responsibility to care for God's earth and to love one's neighbors, both at home and around the world. Kyle has been named to Midwest Energy Group's 40 Under 40 and the American Conservation Coalition's 30 Under 30 cohorts for his work on climate change education and advocacy. Most recently, he was named a Yale Public Voices on the Climate Crisis Fellow for 2020. His work has been featured in national and international news outlets such as PBS, NPR, CNN, NBC News, New York Times, Reuters, and U.S. News and World Report. He is married to Allison and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with their son, Simon.Quotation Read by Rev. Kyle Meyaard-SchaapThe Peace of Wild Things When despair for the world grows in me and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be, I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. - Wendell Berry © Wendell Berry. This poem is excerpted from New Collected Poems and is reprinted with permission of the Counterpoint Press.Recommended Readings & MediaTranscriptionIntroJohn FiegeEnvironmental activists often focus on facts and data, as if more climate information will lead to more climate action. That strategy may be effective with some communities, but overall, it hasn't prevented global emissions from climbing year after year or habitats from being destroyed day after day.Many folks in the environmental movement are thinking a lot about how to make messaging more effective. But it's not just the message we need to question—it's also the messenger.In the US, white evangelical Christians are not known for their strong support of environmental protections or for believing that humans are even causing climate change, but maybe they haven't had the right messengers.Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap is an evangelical Christian climate activist, which is not a combination of descriptors we often hear. Kyle has spent years building a movement of young messengers from within the evangelical community who speak a new language of creation care.He believes that Christians don't need to look any further than the Bible to become fierce and passionate advocates for ecological protection and climate action.Kyle Meyaard-SchaapSo when humans read, have dominion and subdue the earth, and they separate that, from the rest of scriptures witness, which is that Christ is creations true king, then it's easy for us to say, "Well, I guess we have a blank check. Let's do whatever we want." Instead of saying, "Well, let's shape our dominion in our rulership after creation's true king, which is Christ." And when we actually do that, then the way we have dominion and subdue the earth is going to look a whole lot different. It's going to look a whole lot less like privilege and a whole lot more like responsibility.John FiegeI'm John Fiege, and this is Chrysalis.Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap was National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action before becoming Vice President at the Evangelical Environmental Network.I met Kyle in 2019 at a week-long climate storytelling retreat in New York City. I was super excited to continue our conversation here and dive deeper into his own ecological awakening, what scripture says about caring for the environment, and how Christians and non-Christians alike can find common values and build power together to care for life on Earth across cultural lines that often divide us.Here is Rev. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap.---ConversationJohn FiegeYou grew up in Michigan. And that's where I wanted to start. Can you tell me where you grew up? And as a child, what was your relationship to the earth, to the forest, to the ocean, to the rest of life on the planet?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, absolutely. I did. I grew up in Holland, Michigan, which is a beautiful, small town, on the shores of Lake Michigan, western part of the state and grew up, you know, minutes from Lake Michigan. So the beach and dunes were always a big part of my life growing up, as was camping, and just enjoying the beautiful landscapes of Michigan. Northern Michigan, with it's in the lakes and forests, and obviously, Lake Michigan and the coast there. So creation and its beauty, you know, was always a part of my childhood and my upbringing. I can't say it was always a conscious part, though. We didn't talk often about our relationship to the natural world, our responsibilities toward it. My community was a beautiful Christian community, that that taught me lots of really important lessons and values and virtues. But I don't remember a conversation about God's creation and our relationship to it, our responsibility to it, certainly nothing about climate change. And I don't remember outright hostility, to be honest. I think a lot of people expect that from a small Evangelical community like mine. What I remember most was just silence, around climate change, around environmental issues in general, pollution. Except for recycling, which I'm not sure we would have done if the truck didn't pick it up at our curb every other week for us. Except for that, I can't really remember any intentional choices that we made as a family or as a larger Church community. And, and so my childhood was marked by kind of this dissonance between my experience of God's grandeur in these beautiful, breathtaking landscapes that were just a part of me and a part of my life growing up, and the relative silence around those gifts. Silence around what our responsibility would be toward those things. I think it was taken for granted that these things were here, and very little conversation about how to protect them, or what our faith, well how our faith could inform the way we approached questions about how to protect those gifts.Right. And an interesting thing, though, is even if you're not talking about it, in articulating this connection, you obviously had that really profound experience with the natural world. Even if kind of culturally, politically it wasn't, you know, positioned that way. Do you have any, like, particularly strong memories of an experience that has really stuck with you in terms of being in the natural world?Yeah, I think more than one experience, I think I have just a general sense memory, of being in the sand and in the water in Lake Michigan. I don't think I ever really reflected on how formative that body of water was to me and continues to be for me. It's almost like a my center of gravity. I travel a lot for my work, but I feel most at home back in this landscape in Michigan, close to the lake. It's my directional guide for someone who struggles with innate sense of the cardinal directions with Lake Michigan's always West. So if I know where Lake Michigan is, I know where West is. So I think more than kind of a general, distinct, or discreet memory, just the the general sense memory of being near Lake Michigan, of going to Lake Michigan often in the summers, going to the beach often, being in those dunes, being in the water. A couple of years ago, I was invited to a multifaith space where people were invited to bring a part of creation that's meaningful to them to the space, and to kind of offer it to the group. And I brought a vial of Lake Michigan water because that was the only thing I could think of, right? Lake Michigan is the spot for me. Yeah.John FiegeOh, that's awesome. Yeah, I've, over the last couple years, I've started, when meditating, I've started visualizing, being in the surf of the ocean and having the water come in and out in the same cadence as the breath. And that's, I've really, like connected with that as like a technique. And I've thought about it. And I realized, you know, I grew up going to the Atlantic Ocean every summer for a long time. And it's so embedded in me and in my psyche. It sounds like you might have a similar water relationship there.Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, I love that! I love that. And people who grew up in the mountains speak similarly about the mountains. I don't think I realized it, until relatively recently, the impact that that gift has had on me in my life. Yeah.John FiegeOh, that's awesome. Can you tell me the story of your brother spending a semester abroad in New Zealand?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, so my older brother is three years older than me. My hero for much of my life, continues to be one of my best friends. He went off to a semester abroad program in New Zealand when he was a sophomore in college, and I was still in high school, I was a junior in high school. And he grew up, you know, in the same kind of milieu as I did. Pretty conservative, Evangelical Christian community. Very, very little discussion around the environment around climate change in particular, pollution, and the environment in general. And he went on this semester abroad trip, which was designed for Christian college students to engage the disciplines of ecology, biology, environmental science, and biblical studies and theology, in conversation with each other, to examine this beautiful, unique ecosystem in New Zealand; and to bring theological questions and biblical insights into conversation with what they were discovering. And he came back totally transformed.John FiegeIt sounds like an amazing program!Kyle Meyaard-SchaapIt does! I almost went on the same program myself! I ultimately chose to take a different trip elsewhere, but it was an amazing trip. And he came back pretty on fire for what he had learned, and particularly for the way that the trip helped him integrate his existing Christian values, with his burgeoning understanding of the environmental and climate crisis. I think the climax of his return was when he announced to the family...I forget what it was...a couple of days, maybe a week or two, after he came back that because of what he had learned, he was now a vegetarian. Which for my Midwestern, pretty conservative meat and potatoes family, that was pretty shocking. I remember for myself as a junior in high school, I didn't know anybody like me who had ever made that choice. And I had the caricature in my mind of the hemp-friendship-bracelet-weaving, vegan-pizza-eating, throw-paint-on-fur-coats-on-the-weekends-vegetarian, and I was forced to to either keep that caricature and then put my brother in that camp along with them, which was painful, or to suspend my assumptions and hear him out. And he was gracious and patient, and kind of laid out for me all of his rationale for the decision. And most importantly, he helped me see why that decision to become a vegetarian was not a jettisoning of the values that we had been taught by our community. It was, in fact, a deepening of those values. It was a way for him to live more fully into those values, like loving our neighbor, loving God, caring for God's creation. All of the values that we had been instilled with, it was another opportunity to express those values more deeply. And that was, that was a real lightbulb moment for me. I think I had assumed that to make those kinds of decisions or to care about something like the environment or climate change, I would need to turn my back on my community, turn my back on the lessons I learned in Sunday school, turn my back on the values that were instilled in me by my family. And he was the first person who gave me permission to recognize that actually taking these things seriously and doing something about it is a way for us to live more fully into those lessons and those values that we had been taught.John FiegeGreat. That's so interesting, because it seems to set up a trajectory for so much of what you've done since. I'm thinking in particular about this idea, this assumption that, if we just explain the facts, if we just reveal the scientific truth, and everyone would be like, "Oh, okay! Well, let's change everything now!" You know? And it doesn't work that way. You know, we're changed by the people who are closest to us. And that's the key that unlocks people's ability to transform. So I'm wondering if you can kind of start with that moment with your brother. And you know, what path did that take you on? And what does your work and life look like now? And in particular, I'd love to hear you talk more about the work you're doing with young people, and that idea of change from within the community.Kyle Meyaard-SchaapAbsolutely. So that that experience with my brother was really the spark that was fanned into flame, when I myself went off to college a couple years later. Went to a small Christian liberal arts school here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I took classes, and had professors, and read books, and went to lectures, and made friends and all of it just combined to continue to advance my understanding of what my faith had to say about the environmental crisis and the climate crisis in particular, and in how my commitment to my faith was drawing me more deeply into action. At the same time, I was studying religion there. I thought I was going to be a biology major, and all of the intro to bio classes were closed. So I signed up for a religion course, because I had to take two of those as a requirement of the school I was at, and I loved it! I loved it! It was scratching the itch I didn't know I had. It was asking the questions that really got me excited. So I continued to pursue that. I was studying scripture and theology deeply at the same time as I was being exposed to the realities of the climate crisis, being exposed to activists who were doing something about it, embedding myself in a community of peers who are passionate about these things. And were asking these questions too. And all of that led me to after graduation to pursue a seminary degree. I was feeling a call to serve the church. I was pretty clear at that time that that particular calling was likely not to be a traditional pastor of a congregation, but to help the church understand that addressing the climate crisis and taking care of God's creation is a fundamental component of what it means to be a Christian.John FiegeDid you have any models for that? Where did that idea come from? That was in seminary school that you first conceived of that as a calling?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, it was. I had a few models. One model was actually the founder of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, which I think we're going to talk about in a minute, that I had gotten to know over the last couple of years at that point, his name was Ben Lowe. He was certainly a model for me. Other models were Evangelical Christians, or Christians in the Evangelical space, who are active on social justice issues in general, Shane Claiborne, is certainly an influence on me and other Christian activists, who use this language. Who talk about how caring for the vulnerable, protecting the oppressed is a fundamental part of the church's calling in the world. And it's not an ancillary issue for a handful of members in the church who have a predisposition to care about those things. It's not an affinity group on the sidelines of the church. It's at the heart of the church's mission in the world, especially when it comes to climate change. It's just a fundamental part of what it means to follow Jesus and in the 21st century. And so I did have a few models for that. I also had terrific mentors, who helped expand my idea of what could be possible, who kind of helped me discern this calling and tease out the shape of it. And that took some time. That took a few years to really get a sense of the particular shape of that calling. I entered seminary with a general sense that I was called to serve the church in some way. And I was passionate about social justice at the same time, and then over the course of my time in seminary, and conversations with mentors, that the shape of that calling really kind of filled out.John FiegeAnd how would you describe the work that you've done since seminary?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah. So since seminary, I have been working with Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, which is a national organization of young Christians around the country, many with a very similar story to mine grew up in a conservative Christian community, were not given a whole lot of tools to help them integrate their faith and the values they were being taught in church and Christian day school, in many cases, with the realities of climate change, and environmental degradation. Many of them came to be concerned about the climate crisis. But were often told they needed to keep that separate from their life at church. So, many of them would join a Sierra Club or three-fifty protests on the weekend, and then go to church and not tell anyone about it. Because they felt implicitly or explicitly that they were told that those things had to be separate. So my ministry really for the last several years, since seminary has been to come alongside these young people, and to hopefully catalyze the kind of experience that I had. Because of my brother, because of other experiences because of other people I had in my life, that wedded together my faith and my faith values with climate action, to do that, for young Christians across the country, and to hopefully, create a space where that transformation can happen more quickly. Because it took me years, and where that transformation can happen for more people more quickly. And that can translate into a movement within the church of young people calling the church back to our own stated values, our own calling in the world, and can translate into real political pressure that can hopefully create the circumstances that will lead to policy change that can address the climate crisis at the speed and scale necessary. So I use the word ministry, because I believe that's what I'm doing. I believe that's what this is. That this calling I have to educate, equip, and mobilize young Christians. And recently, I actually transitioned to a role with Y.E.C.A parent organization where I'm now the vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network, continuing to support Y.E.C.E., but also leading other programs for other Christians across the country to. I do believe this as a ministry and I believe I'm called to this ministry. Because the gospel of Jesus, in Jesus's own words is about setting the oppressed free, proclaiming good news to the poor, and climate action is that, and the church needs to recognize that and to get to work.John FiegeWell, great. I'm curious to hear more about, kind of your assessment of how that is going. But before we do that, I want to just jump into more of the heart of some of these ideas that I think that you spend your time steeped in and talking about. So I wanted to jump into this book you contributed to called Beyond Stewardship: New Approaches to Creation Care. I was wondering if you could talk about the evolution of the idea of creation care. So let's let's start in 1967, when historian Lynn White Jr. wrote an explosive article in the science in the journal Science called the historical roots of our ecological crisis, he cites the Dominion Mandate from Genesis in blaming the Judeo Christian tradition for its abusive attitudes towards the Earth and its non-human creatures. So here's Genesis 128, "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." What do you hear in this passage, and how do you think it's been read or misread by Christians or non-Christians?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapHmm. That's a terrific question. And you're right. I think a lot about this. So I'll try to be concise, but I am a preacher by training. This is one of the passages I've maybe thought most about. So I hear a few things. I think the first thing we should name is that read on its face in the English translation from the original Hebrew that you just read. It sure sounds like God has given humans license to do as they please with creation. However, I think my seminary education in particular has sensitized me to the importance of a slow, and careful, and contextual reading of Scripture. So when I hear that passage, I want to ask the question, "What's around it? What's around that verse, those verses that can help us contextualize that command?" And when I asked that, I see a couple of things. The first thing I see is that that command comes after 27 verses of God, creating and reveling in that creation. Genesis 1 says, "God looks at what he had made and calls it good," says that seven times and in the Hebrew imagination, the number seven connotes wholeness, perfection, even holiness. So having that Hebrew word in there, "Tov," seven times, for good, signals something to the original listeners, right? God is calling God's creation maximally good. This is this creation, I'm making as good as it gets. And the other thing I see is, pretty clearly, creations true king going about the work of creating, right? The language of dominion, and rulership evokes kingship. And so when we see God giving humans the command to subdue, have dominion over. That is the language of kingship. And we have to ask ourselves, "Is God really placing humans as creations true king? Or does the rest of Scripture attest that creations True King is actually Christ?" And if that's the case, then we have to ask ourselves, "Is our dominion separated from the dominion of Christ's or is our call to rule over creation supposed to be shaped in a particular way?" I would argue our call to dominion is derivative of Christ's true claim to the rulership of all of creation. And if that's the case, then our rule has to be shaped after the way that Christ rules and scripture is quite clear about how Christ exercises his authority over creation. We see it in the Incarnation, when he empties himself and and takes on human form, and limits himself in human form, to bring creation back to himself. I think Paul says it really well in Philippians, when he says that Christ did not see equality with God as something to be exploited for his own advantage. But he emptied himself and became a servant when he came to serve us in the Incarnation, and in his death and resurrection. So we see that Christ as creations true king exercises Dominion in a particular way, and it's not through exploitation, or through domination, it's through humble sacrifice, and through service. So when humans read, have dominion and subdue the earth, and they separate that, from the rest of scriptures witness, which is that Christ is creations true king, then it's easy for us to say, "Well, I guess we have a blank check. Let's do whatever we want." Instead of saying, "Well, let's shape our dominion in our rulership after creation's true king, which is Christ." And when we actually do that, then the way we have dominion and subdue the earth is going to look a whole lot different. It's going to look a whole lot less like privilege and a whole lot more like responsibility. Responsibility to serve that which we are ruling over. And I think Genesis 2 actually supports that interpretation. Genesis: 1 and 2 are two creation accounts in Scripture. Genesis 1 is really high minded language that belongs and, you know,magisterial archives along side the decrees of the king, but Genesis 2, the language is really intimate and earthy. It's a story about a God who stoops in the mud and forms humans with his hands, and then breathes his own breath into it, into the humans that he's creating. And the first command he gives to humans in Genesis 2 is to serve and protect creation. Genesis 2:15 has the Hebrew words "svad" and "shamar," the garden, those are often translated as till and keep it, which I don't like. Really, when you actually go to the Hebrew, it's pretty clear the word Avad. The Hebrew word Avad is all over the Old Testament. So we have a good idea of what it means. It's almost always used in the context of service and even slavery. And Shamar is also used everywhere. And it's quite clear that it connotes jealous protection and proactive guarding from harm. So in Genesis 2, God takes the humans he just made, puts them in the garden and says, serve and protect this, this thing that I've made. I think when you put that next to Genesis 1's call to dominion, it's quite clear that both of them are calling humans toward a particular responsibility to creation. Not to privilege, but to responsibility.John FiegeWow. Well, that amazing textual reading you just gave it, makes me think about the Protestant Reformation. In the sense that so much of the tumult in the church over the past millennium, has been about who interprets the Bible. And the Protestant Reformation was all about the ability of everyone to be able to read and interpret the Bible as they'd like. But when I listened to you have this amazingly learned and nuanced interpretation of the contextual reading of any one particular line, you know, it makes it gives me pause. I was like, "Yes, we should all be able to read ourselves." But that doesn't mean we don't need help from people who spend their lives studying the intricacies of a very complex text with very old language, that can be interpreted in many different ways. How have you approached that?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, I like that a lot. I think you're right. And I think we can have both at the same time. I think we can invite people to experience scripture on their own terms. Because I do believe that Scripture is alive, that it is less an object to be dissected, which much of modern interpretive methods have tried to do and it's much more a living subject to be encountered. I believe the Holy Spirit works through our engagement with scripture to shape and change us. So I want people to encounter scripture on their own. And at the same time, I want people who have, like you said, spent their lives studying the cultural context of Scripture, studying the linguistic intricacies of Scripture. I want those people also speaking into folks' individual readings of Scripture to help people understand some of the complexities of what they are reading and what they're experiencing. You know, much of especially modern Evangelicalism, has emphasized a plain reading of the text. And that has been held forth as a way to honor scripture and honor the Bible on its own terms. I actually interpret that as the opposite. I think that's doing scripture a great disservice by ignoring all of the depth that is present in Scripture, that can be gained through a deep study, and winsome explication of it.John FiegeYeah. And it's a bit like constitutional originalism. I see a lot of parallels there with this very plain reading of texts. And it's interesting what you say about interpretation. Where, you know, some of the brilliance of these texts, is their openness and their invitation for interpretation and invitation for nuance, and like almost built in layeredness of meaning, and what meaning could be. And to read that plainly can, as you say, really be a disservice to it.Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, absolutely. And it's even, there's even more layers than constitutional originalism when it comes to the Bible because the Constitution was written in English, older style English, but English nonetheless. But, you know, Scripture is coming to us through the Hebrew language and the Greek language. Coming to us through a variety of manuscripts, different versions, different interpretations, different translations. There's there's a longer history and more layers of interpretation they're already baked in. So to pretend like we can read the Bible in English and read it, you know, to gain everything we possibly can from it in that one English reading, again, just does a disservice to the complexity and the depth of Scripture.John FiegeLet's go back and read Lynn White Jr's article from 1967 very briefly. What I find interesting is that while he clearly blames the Judeo-Christian tradition for our ecological crisis, as he calls it, his solution is not to abandon religion or even Christianity. He says, "I personally doubt that disastrous ecologic backlash can be avoided simply by applying to our problems more science and more technology." Instead his solution is St. Francis of Assisi. He wants to dig back into Christian history and on earth, more earth friendly theologies that have been suppressed over time. And I'd love to read just his last paragraph from his piece. He writes, "The greatest spiritual revolutionary in Western history, Saint Francis, proposed what he thought was an alternative Christian view of nature and man's relation to it; he tried to substitute the idea of the equality of all creatures, including man, for the idea of man's limitless rule of creation. He failed. Both our present science and our present technology are so tinctured with Orthodox Christian arrogance toward nature that no solution for our ecological crisis can be expected from them alone. Since the roots of our trouble are so largely religious, the remedy must also be essentially religious, whether we call it that or not. We must rethink and refill our nature and destiny. The profoundly religious, but heretical sense of the primitive Franciscans for the spiritual autonomy of all parts of nature may point a direction. I propose Francis as a patron saint of ecologists." I think of our current Pope Francis, I think he would agree. There's this dominant secular idea of replacing Christianity with a purely scientific worldview. But that's not what Lynn White Jr. is calling for. What do you think when you hear this passage? I don't know if you've read it before, but what does it make you think?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapI'm always struck when I'm reminded of Lynn White's conclusion. There's no doubt that this paper looms large in environmental consciousness, particularly in the consciousness of the modern environmental movement, it because in many ways it was one of the catalysts for it. I appreciate his recognition that religion and the Judeo-Christian worldview is so part and parcel with Western civilization that I don't even think a project to jettison it is possible. And I think that's what he's saying too. He's saying, look, we're not going to replace the cultural impact, but the cultural foundations of the Judeo-Christian worldview and Western civilization, probably ever. So how do we work in recognition of that reality toward a better spirituality, a more earth friendly, Judeo-Christian perspective. So I appreciate that. And that's in many ways what we are trying to do in our work. St. Francis is a great example. Scripture is full of support for Saint Francis' kind of spirituality that recognizes the inherent goodness and the inherent sanctity of the created world. Scripture shouts this stuff, not just in Genesis, but all over Psalms, Job, the Pentateuch, the Law, the Gospels, Colossians, Ephesians, Revelation, it's everywhere! Romans. You can't run away from it. And you know, people like St. Francis and other leaders have shown us what it looks like to take those teachings and turn it into an operative theology and a way of life. And this is part of our heritage, too, right? I think that the Church, often especially after the Reformation, the Protestant Church tends to think that the Church of Jesus Christ in the world was established when Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the wall, to the door of the church. But it goes back so much farther. And that's all our heritage and that's all worth reexamining. Especially in the light of the current ecological crisis that we are in. We have tools and resources. The church has tools and resources at its disposal that we can use to help understand the crisis we're living through and can point us forward, give us a way forward toward positive action.John FiegeYeah, great. Well, can you talk about Christian environmental stewardship and how that grew out of a response to this criticism of dominion as domination?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapSure, yeah. So the Lynn White article was a catalyst for a lot of Christians to examine Christianity's perspective around dominion, and how that influences the way we interact with creation. And that started some conversations that kind of culminated in the late 70s, early 80s. Around this concept of stewardship, that was kind of the Protestant Churches, at least in America, the Protestant church's answer to Lynn White's, I think, correct critique of dominionist theology, and the Church saying, Look, Lynn White is right! The Bible does not give us a blank check to do whatever we want with creation. Dominion does not mean domination. It means stewardship, it means wise management. And so stewardship became kind of the dominant frame that was articulated by Christian environmentalists and Christian theologians just looking to try to do better theology, say, look, Dominion. Dominionism, isn't it. Stewardship is much closer to what Scripture is talking about. So stewardship was a necessary corrective and a really important step in the right direction. It wasn't without its limitations, though. One limitation is that from a communication standpoint, a lot of rank and file folks and churches didn't quite understand what it meant. And there was a lot of confusion around are we talking about stewarding creation? Are we talking about why stewardship of money. A lot of studies have been done that show that Christians dominant views on stewardship centered around money still. So stewardship had always been used around language of finances and money, and so to add stewardship onto conversations around ecology and creation felt a little confusing to a lot of folks in the church, and it continues to confuse some people. Another limitation of the stewardship model is it creates unnecessary distance between us and the rest of creation. A steward is someone who is outside of and separate from the thing that is being stewarded. A steward is a custodian, a manager, but it can separate us from the rest of creation and kind of reinforce the hierarchy that dominionism created between us and the rest of creation. When in fact, I think scripture actually teaches us that humans are much more radically interconnected with creation. We are not separate from creation, we are created ourselves. We have a unique role to play in the midst of creation, but we are not separate from it. So stewardship kind of developed out of Lynn White's critique, and now, some of us in the church are thinking about stewardship and its legacy. We're grateful for the ways that it's reframed dominionism, but trying to imagine other ways to think about our relationship to creation that might be more effective in mobilizing Christians toward deeper action and care for the earth.John FiegeAnd this seems to be this, this problem of our separation from the rest of the natural world. You know, that's a problem shared by the broader environmental movement. This idea of locking away nature as wilderness in reserves, as important as that might be, it's not everything. And it creates this distance. As a replacement for the concept of stewardship, you suggest the idea of kinship and commonality in difference. I think this is a really wonderful idea for our view of both the nonhuman and the human world. Can you explain what you mean by kinship? And maybe talk about this beautiful metaphor you use of the mother and the child?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, sure. So the the project of the Beyond Stewardship book was to imagine multiple different vantage points that we might use to better understand our relationship to the natural world. So I highly encourage reading the whole book because the contributors offer other really insightful perspectives about how we can think about our relationship to the rest of creation. My contribution was, as you said, this idea of kinship, and off the bat, I want to say, this is certainly not a unique idea. Indigenous cultures, throughout time and space, have been articulating our relationship with creation as one of kinship. And I also think that the Old Testament, and the new, but especially the Old Testament, attests to this relationship too. And what I'm trying to get at with kinship is this idea that, for so much of the Christian Church's history, we have elevated ourselves above the rest of creation. We have elevated our uniqueness over against creation and diminished or completely flattened out our commonality with the rest of creation, in a way that I don't think Scripture supports. I think Scripture is clear that humans are different in an important way from the rest of creation, but not separated from it. One of the ways I think Scripture does that really beautifully, is I often say this in my presentations, and people are surprised, but humans don't have their own special creative day to themselves. Humans are created on the same day as all of the other land creatures, day six, when God creates badgers, and beavers, and billy goats. He also creates human beings.John FiegeRight. And that's not insignificant.Kyle Meyaard-SchaapRight! It's a really brilliant reminder for humans that, hey, we may have this unique image of God thing, which actually, is a call to responsibility and privilege. But we are embedded in creation. We are a part of creation in really important ways. And I think kinship helps us remember that and center that and keep that front of mind. So that the way I tried to express that is through the metaphor of a mother and a child. And I think that was on my mind because when I was writing this chapter, we had recently had our first child. And the metaphor is essentially trying to get at this idea that a mother and a child are deeply connected, right? They are connected through shared DNA, they're connected through shared spaces, but they're different. They are different beings. So just as we are different from other creatures in creation, we also have shared features, we have commonalities. We are all created from the same earth, from the same stuff, we were created on the same day in Genesis 1. In Genesis 2, that connection is even deeper through the the use of a Hebrew pun. The scripture in Genesis 2 says that God formed Adom, which is where we get the English name Adam, for the first man scripture actually never named Adam as Adam. It's just the Hebrew word Adom, which is "man from the soil," Adamah, we are Adom from the Adamah, we are soil people is essentially what Genesis 1 says. And we share that with the rest of creation. So there's a deep kinship and similarity between us and the rest of creation, while distinctiveness and distinction, and we have to hold both of those at the same time, right? We cannot elevate our uniqueness at the expense of our commonality, and we can't collapse our uniqueness for the sake of emphasizing our commonality because that also doesn't honor scriptures witness scriptures witness is that we are radically embedded in the rest of creation. We are radically connected to the rest of creation. And we are unique in that we alone bear the image of God, we alone were called to exercise authority, exercise responsibility toward the rest of creation. We have to hold both of those at the same time.John FiegeAnd that idea of kinship and commonality and difference. It feels like, it's such a beautiful way to live your life in so many ways. It's not just about the environment. But when we talk about race or human rights, or so many other things that that we're dealing with that centering around kinship and commonality in difference is, it's hard to fault that.Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, yeah, I think you're right, I think it it extends to a lot of our lived experience. And I think it can inform a lot of the conversations we're having right now, like you said, around race, civil rights, immigration reform, a lot of social justice issues that at their root, in my opinion, are kind of the product of elevating one at the expense of the other. Usually elevating our difference at the expense of our commonality. But if we can find a way to honor our commonality, and our differences, at the same time, recognize that we have commonality and difference, then I think we could we could go a long way in healing some of the divides and divisions that exist.John FiegeYeah, for sure. This mother child relationship is a metaphor used in many cultures across history. But usually in terms of Mother Earth, where we're the children. What you're doing here is flipping the metaphor. We are the mother and the earth is our child. Seeing Earth as our child brings with it, this kind of fierce sense of love and protection and adoration. Do you have a sense of how this image of us loving and protecting the earth as our child is resonating with pastors and congregations and other Christians?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapHmm. I love that. I actually hadn't considered that I had kind of borrowed that metaphor and flipped it on its head. But you're right. I one of my favorite books of the last year is Braiding Sweetgrass, and Robin Wall Kimmerer talks often about how humans are the youngest siblings among the rest of creation, how we have the most to learn from our siblings and creation, about how to live in harmony and in reciprocity with Mother Earth. So yeah, you're right, I flipped it. And and I kind of make us as the mother, because we are given in scripture, this responsibility to steward, to rule over, again, ruling as Christ rules, which is through sacrifice and service, seeking the good of that which is ruled. To your question of how it's resonating, even though as I said, indigenous thinkers and wisdom keepers have been teaching this for millennia. The white Evangelical Church is very much steeped in kind of Dominionism. And I think stewardship even is still trying to break in 40 years after it was put forth as an alternative. So I think the jury's still out, we have a long way to go in reaching pastors with this kind of idea in reaching lay folks and lay leaders with this idea that our relationship to the rest of creation is much more intimate and interconnected than we often think. So I don't have a whole lot of data on that yet. I hope that I hope that in the next several years that this idea can continue to get some traction and can start to make a difference.John FiegeAwesome. You talk about liturgies of kinship, that have been enacted for centuries, including the "Canticle of the Sun," a song written by none other than St. Francis of Assisi. And that reminds me of the second encyclical of the current Pope Francis, which takes its name from the first line of a canticle. I just want to read for a second how Pope Francis begins the encyclical. "Laudato si mi Signore, praise be to you my Lord. In the words of this beautiful canticle St. Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. Praise be to You, my Lord, through our sister, mother earth, who sustains and governs us and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs. This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts wounded by sin is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air, and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself burdened and laid waste is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor. She groans and travail. We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth. Our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air, and we receive life and refreshment from her waters." What did "Laudato Si," the Pope's second encyclical mean to you, as a Christian, if not a Catholic?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapI remember being deeply moved. As I read it. It's just such an important teaching from such an important figure. And like you said, even though I'm not Catholic, I can recognize the beauty of it, the heart of it. I just think the importance of such of such a consequential teacher and leader in the church, saying the things that are said in that encyclical, right, are hard are hard to overemphasize. I think it's so important. And studies have actually shown that even Protestants were affected by the encyclical. Some of their views on creation and the environment and climate kind of spiked after the release, most evidence shows that it went down again. So I wish that had been sustained. But it had an impact even outside of the Catholic Church, and certainly on me personally, I think it's a gift to the Church universal for all time that will be treasured for a long time.John FiegeSo I wanted to talk a bit about the idea of love. Love is an essential element in Christianity. Here's 1 John 4:8 from the King James Version. "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." In your work, it seems to me that you're making an argument to Christians that the biblical idea of love must be expanded to include the nonhuman world. Similar to Aldo Leopold's call and his land ethic to enlarge the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants and animals, or Albert Einstein's call to widen our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty. How is your call for love of the nonhuman world in harmony with these ideas are distinct from them?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, you're right. That is what I and others in this movement are trying to do. We're calling the church to expand our understanding of love and who our object of love is. I think it's distinct because the way that I understand this call to an expansive love is rooted in a command given by Jesus in Matthew 22 and other passages in the gospels too, you'll find this in Mark and Luke as well. When Jesus is asked by a teacher of the law, which is the greatest commandment, this questioner is trying to trip Jesus up, because at the time there were over 630 commands in the Torah. So essentially, he's asking Jesus to choose a side, and Jesus refuses to play that game. And he says, actually, I'll tell you this, all of those laws and commandments can be boiled down to these two: love God with everything you've got with your heart, soul, strength and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. And that is the heart of, I believe our call to care for creation and address the climate crisis. Because if we are truly going to love God and love our neighbor, in this 21st century, when the evidence is clear, that God's creation that God called good, that is the work of God's hands, is being degraded and destroyed. Creations own ability to praise God and worship God is being inhibited through human actions, then what better way to love God than to protect those works of God's hands? What better way to love God than to ensure that the rest of creation can do what it was created to do, which is to give praise and honor and glory to the Creator. Taking care of creation and addressing the climate crisis is a concrete way for us to get better at loving God. And it's a concrete way for us to get better at loving our neighbor. Because we know that the effects of pollution, the effects of the climate crisis are human. In their effect, in their impact. We know that especially black and brown communities are being disproportionately harmed by environmental pollution. We know that poor communities are being disproportionately harmed by climate impacts. So taking care of creation, loving creation, addressing the climate crisis, are actually ways for Christians to get better at following Jesus' command. When Jesus said, this is the most important thing that you can do. This is the center of my ethic. Love God with everything you got and love your neighbor as if their present circumstances and future prospects are your own. We believe in the work that we do. And I certainly believe that addressing environmental pollution that harms people's ability to flourish and thrive on the earth, and addressing the climate crisis, which is killing people right now. Right is a way for us to tangibly get better at obeying that command. I also believe that the outpouring of love when we cultivate love for creation, the effects of that love will mean that we are really practically also expressing love for God and our neighbor at the same time.John FiegeWow, that's really beautiful. So let's talk about language for a moment. Language is important in so many ways, it can unite us and build community or it can divide us along lines of identity. It can quickly signal commonality and just as easily signal opposition. In this country, the environment is often seen as a concern of liberals in cities, and when Christians don't identify with those broad political or cultural labels, they often think that the environment cannot and should not be a concern of theirs. You don't use these broad, nebulous terms of nature, or the environment very often you talk about the creation and creation care. What are your thoughts on the complicated nature of relationship, of language and, and how you can use a word to connect with one group, but at the same time, that same word might alienate or repel another group?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah, I completely agree. I don't think I can offer thoughts that are any better than the thoughts you can just offer. That's those, that was beautifully put. And that's exactly right. And it's central to the work of anybody who's trying to organize a community around a particular issue or toward a particular action is, first and foremost, you have to understand who you're trying to reach, you have to understand your community, you have to understand what they care about, you have to understand how they perceive their identity, you have to understand what values drive their actions, and then find the language that will connect to those identities to those values. Right, rather than alienate, and creation and creation care. And using those words is one way that we try to do that. But you know, a lot of the research bears out what you shared, which is that language is the the message is critical. How you share the message is critical, depending on who you're trying to reach. And in many ways, the messenger is almost more important than the message itself too. Who is delivering that message? Are they an outsider or do they get us? Do they understand who we are? Do they share important values? And do they share our identity or not? All of that goes into whether or not anyone is receptive to any kind of message. And just like my brother gave me permission to lean more deeply into who I was, and the values that I held dear in my action on this. That's what we try to do with the people we're talking to. Give them permission to recognize how their existing identity and the values that already drives them are exactly the identity and the values that the movement needs and that they can bring to bear on this issue. A lot of people in the Evangelical church, a lot of folks right of the political center, hear a lot of environmental language. And a lot of times they hear it communicated as essentially saying here are all of the ways that you and the community you love are wrong. Here are all of the ways that you need to change the life that you love to be more like us. Doing so will alienate you from people you love. But don't worry, because it'll make you more like us and the world way more like we want it to be instead of hearing here are all of the things about you and the community you love that are great. Here are other people who share your values that are taking action, as a way to deepen those values. When you take action to join them, you become more connected to them, you become more connected to your community. And the world becomes more like you want it to be.John FiegeThat makes me think a bit about the enlightenment and the scientific revolution where, you know, at that time, you know, truth and knowledge came from people. You believed it because this person said it was, so that may be your priest, that might be your king. And that's where truth came from. And one part of the Enlightenment project was to replace that with objectively verifiable scientific knowledge that isn't dependent on who's saying it. And it feels like we're still fighting that battle, sometimes where sometimes I feel like the environmental movement is saying, "Just look at the science! We don't need to have opinions. We don't need to have personalities. We don't need to have identities. We just need to look at the data and it'll tell us where to move." But that is not that simple. And it's not how people work. It's not how the vast majority people work. And even the people it does work for, does it really? Or is it actually cultural things that are predisposing them to accept scientific knowledge?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapYeah. And it ignores such a huge swath of human psychology, right? Like, we are rational beings, but that is hardly all of who we are. We are also cultural and social beings. We're tribal beings. So yeah, so much of the social science and psychological research is bearing out what you're saying, which is that you know that the scientific revolution has done wonders for the human condition. But it has also, in many ways, at least in the project that you just explained, it has issued huge portions of what it means to be human, in its pursuit of communicating truth and ignores that for millennia, humans have interpreted and understood truth very, very differently. And that's not going to go away anytime soon.John FiegeRight, exactly. So in the foreword to beyond stewardship, Bill McKibben writes, in the most Christian nation on earth, the most Christian people have grown ever more attached to leaders in causes antithetical to the idea of taking care of the earth. And here's what you wrote, in a CNN, Op-Ed entitled Young Evangelicals Are Defying Their Elders' Politics. You write, "We've grown weary of the current expression of Evangelical politics stoked by Trump's Republican Party, that seeks to convince us that faithful civic engagement is a black and white, 'us vs. them' proposition where danger to our way of life lurks around every corner and that our overriding political concern should be our own cultural power and comfort rather than advancing the good of our neighbors. Many of our peers have simply left the Evangelical tradition behind, fed up with how selfish, some of the followers of our famously selfless Savior have become." Wow, those are really strong words! I feel like, you know, are you are you channeling the book of Job here?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapThere was some pathos in that, yeah!John FiegeSo I pulled this Job 34. "Can someone who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Is he not the one who says to Kings, 'You are worthless,' and to nobles, 'you are wicked,' Who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?" How have American Evangelicals become so aligned with worthless kings and wicked nobles who trade in destruction of the natural world? How do you understand that?Kyle Meyaard-SchaapWow, great question. So I've thought a lot about this, as you might imagine, and I think it's the result of a couple of realities. I think one explanation that's necessary is understanding the history of suspicion around scientific discovery and scientific findings in the white Evangelical Church in America. Much of this goes back to, uh, it depends on how far you want to go back. You know, it exists in the church universal going back to Galileo and Copernicus. But more recently in the American Protestant tradition, you can kind of trace it back to the middle of the 19th century when Darwin's Origin of the Species is published. And the US church is divided on how to respond. Some churches and church leaders say, Look, we can integrate this into our understanding of Scripture, we can recognize that Scripture is not a science textbook. It's It's teaching us something other than what Darwin is explaining. And both can be true. And we can integrate an understanding of evolution into how we believe God created the earth and how God sustains it. And other portions of the church said, No, this is this is the straw that breaks the camel's back, we cannot abide this, we need to reject this because it is a threat to the authority of Scripture. It is a threat to the bedrock of our lives and our cosmology, and how we understand God to be at work in the world, and we have to reject it. These camps kind of solidified into what became known as the modernists and the fundamentalists. The modernist arguing for integration of evolution into Christian life and the fundamentalist arguing for rejection of it. And it kind of came to a head in the Scopes Monkey Trial in the 1920s, when a teacher in Tennessee was put on trial for teaching evolution in school. And it became this national frenzy, the front page of all the papers around the country and Clarence Darrow. And William Jennings Bryan, went head to head and the fundamentalists won! William Jennings Bryan won the case! The teacher was convicted, but in the court of public opinion, the fundamentalists looked backwards, they looked ignorant, and public opinion really turned against those who are arguing to keep evolution out of schools. And the fundamentalists were kind of humiliated. And they, in many ways, went underground tended to their wounds, but didn't disappear. They were building institutions, they were planting new churches. And in many ways, they reemerged with Billy Graham, in the 1950s and 60s. And his movement, which in many ways became the precursor to the Moral Majority, the religious right, the rise of the religious rights in the 80s and 90s. Which, more than Graham, to his credit, Graham always expressed concern about wedding a particular political party to Christianity. Went a step beyond Graham and really wedded Christian faithfulness and Christian discipleship to Republican politics. And created a culture for an entire generation of political participation that said, if you're a Christian, you need to check the box with a "R" next to it, that is what God requires of you. And it was it was connected to arguments around particular policy issues, especially abortion, which which was kind of engineered into a wedge issue. If you look at the history of how that happened.The religious right really has its roots in opposition to federal desegregation efforts at Bob Jones University. But these leaders who are trying to create a constituency, turned abortion into a wedge issue and organize millions of Evangelicals into their camp. And that's the legacy right? And it's rooted in this suspicion of science going back to that fundamentalist and modernist controversy. And it's rooted in what a lot of Christians were formed in, which is this idea that faithful Christian civic engagement means supporting the Republican Party. And somehow, environmentalism got wedded to this suite of conservative Evangelical policy concerns also including gay marriage, LGBTQIA rights, feminism in general, and environmentalism as secularism. Environmentalism became seen as a sibling to the evolution debate. An effort to de-legitimize the authority of scripture to replace it with observable objective of scientific method, empiricism. And so environmentalism became lumped in with this suite of policy concerns that animated the religious right, and the movement of Evangelical conservative Christians in the US. And that was exploited by fossil fuel corporations who stood to lose the most from any sort of policy to curb emissions and documents abound, attesting to the fact that Exxon Mobil all the way back in the 80s was suppressing data. That they were spending billions of dollars to resurrect the playbook of big tobacco to hire their own scientists to commission their own studies with no other purpose other than to cast doubt within public dialogue around this conversation about the severity of the problem, the root causes of it, potential solutions around it. And a lot of that money went to target Evangelical Christians, because they were already primed to be suspicious about environmentalism as an "ism," which is to say, as a system of belief ultimate answers to ultimate questions like, why are we here? Who is governing the world or what is governing the world? So they were identified as a particularly ripe constituency to be misinformed. And then they were misinformed to the tune of billions and billions of dollars. And that's the history we're fighting against. And it's really powerful, and the interests allied against our efforts are strong. Those who benefit from the status quo are very powerful. And so it helps to understand some of that history because it gives me, it helps cultivate some compassion in me. I know a lot of these people. I know, a lot of these people are my family. I have extended family, most of my extended family does not understand why I do what I do. And even comes at me sometimes on social media especially. But understanding all of the forces that have aligned against them understanding this gives me some compassion, and also helps to remember my own journey, right? It took me years to recognize this to break the spell that had been cast on me. And so if it took me years, it's okay if it takes others years to and all I'm called to do is try to be one person on that journey, guiding them toward deeper understanding and deeper action.John FiegeWell, I've never heard a more succinct, more beautifully articulated story that starts with Darwin and ends with Merchants of Doubt.Kyle Meyaard-SchaapSuccinct is generous!John FiegeHey, for a reverend, you know!Kyle Meyaard-SchaapI'm rarely described as succint.John FiegeSo what could the largely secular environmental movement learn from Christian environmentalism in the idea of creation care?Rev. Kyle Meyaard-SchaapHmm. I hope one of the lessons is that the environmental movement should try not to give up on anybody. Because I think the emergence of the Creation Care movement, the emergence of Christian and especially Evangelical action on climate change, is a great case study, in the fact that constituencies can move. Especially when those constituencies are being reached by effective trusted messengers with messages that resonate with them. So I hope the larger environmental movement can look to the Creation Care movement, as an example of a constituency that shares their ultimate

What would you do if you inherited 25 million dollars at age 21? This episode is about Sam Jacobs and a network of donors who use lessons and inspiration from social movements to reclaim a new narrative around philanthropy. Traditionally funders hold onto power, hoard money in private foundations and donor-advised funds and control giving based on the funders own views and priorities. Because of Occupy Wall Street and the Movement for Black Lives, a new narrative about wealth and philanthropy is emerging. Radical philanthropists are changing the face of philanthropy and redistributing their wealth. They believe that ‘those closest to the pain, need to be closest to the power!'*   As a member of Resource Generation and Solidiare - Sam Jacobs, National Organizer for Donor Relations at The Right to the City Alliance, focuses his philanthropic giving on the re-distribution of his personal inheritance and getting others to join this path. Sam intentionally re-allocates his funds to prioritize movement organizations that are spearheading initiatives that protect our communities and the planet.   Sam not only prioritizes funding social movements but puts those on the frontlines in control of the dollars. Why are folks in the 1% joining this shift? Listen to Episode 3! #philanthropy #wealthredistribution #redistribution #funduslikeyouwantustowin #funders #m4bl #occupy #giving #whenwefightwewin 

This episode is dedicated to Coach Jimmy Collins, longtime Marvin Gaye fan and loving father of Bring Receipts co-host Brandi Collins-Dexter. Coach Collins passed away in December 2020. In this episode, Brandi argues that Marvin Gaye's rendition of the national anthem at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game is the only version America deserves. Steven, though a fan of this version, completely disagrees.Joining the podcast to decide who is right is Matt Howard, the current National Organizer for Communications at Right to the City Alliance and previously was the Co-Executive Director at About Face: Veterans Against the War. This episode covers Marvin Gaye's musical career, the history of the Star Spangled Banner (did you know it came from a drinking song?), and revolutionary drum machine the Roland TR-808, and major events from 1982. This episode features the song "The AnacreonticSong" as performed by the University of Michigan's American Music Institute. Let us know who you think won via Social Media:Twitter: @bring_receiptsInstagram: @bring_receiptsFollow BR Hosts on Twitter:Brandi Collins-Dexter (@BrandingBrandi)Steven Renderos (@stevenrenderos)Artwork & Logo by:Andrés Guzmán (IG: andresitoguzman)Beats by:DJ RenSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bringreceipts)

"The Vital Need to Decolonize" feat. Ajamu Baraka A human rights defender whose experience spans four decades of domestic and international education and activism, Ajamu Baraka is a veteran grassroots organizer whose roots are in the Black Liberation Movement and anti-apartheid and Central American solidarity struggles. He is an internationally recognized leader of the emerging human rights movement in the U.S. and has been at the forefront of efforts to apply the international human rights framework to social justice advocacy in the U.S. for more than 25 years. He is now a National Organizer for the Black Alliance for Peace, whose activities we discuss. Baraka has taught political science at various universities and has been a guest lecturer at academic institutions in the U.S. and abroad. Baraka has appeared on a wide-range of media outlets including CNN, BBC, Telemundo, ABC, RT, the Black Commentator, the Washington Post and the New York Times. He is currently an editor and contributing columnist for the Black Agenda Report and a writer for Counterpunch. We talked about the recent airstrikes by the US on Syria; how foreign policy was virtually ignored during the 2020 presidential campaign; the bloated US military budget; the global reach of US imperialism; neoliberalism as an expression of fascism; alternative media and social media; decolonization and the need to dismantle the United States; the structures of white supremacy; the dependency of technoindustrial culture on colonialism; following indigenous leadership; the necessity of revolutionary change; the weak organizational culture in the US; and the importance of acting in solidarity with social struggles around the world. If you like this episode, please share it on social media, and subscribe to the podcast so you'll be alerted to future episodes. To support "Voices for Nature & Peace" financially, you can make a one-time donation at paypal.me or venmo to username kollibri. You can also become a member at Patreon.com/kollibri, where you'll get early access to most episodes and to exclusive content. Now here is my conversation with Ajamu Baraka. Ajamu Baraka's website: https://www.ajamubaraka.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ajamubaraka Black Alliance for Peace: https://blackallianceforpeace.com/ Music in background of introduction assembled from samples by: MieliTietty https://freesound.org/people/MieliTietty/ and jaffa1970 https://freesound.org/people/jaffa1970/ RADIO FREE SUNROOT: Podcasting by Kollibri terre Sonnenblume https://radiofreesunroot.com KOLLIBRI'S BLOG & BOOKSHOP: https://macskamoksha.com/ ONE-TIME DONATION: http://paypal.me/kollibri https://venmo.com/Kollibri Support Voices for Nature & Peace by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/voices-for-nature-and-peace This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-a50345 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Voices for Nature & Peace.

Join #BLAIRISMS hosts Blair & Brandon for an incredible time on the #SAVAGECHATSERIES with the Activist, Public Speaker, National Organizer, and Founder & Co-Director of House of Tulip… @themariahmoore

Today on Sojourner Truth, our Election Day special. Our guests are Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, David Ayala, Ed Fallon, Marjorie Cohn. As we speak, millions of people across the United States are heading to the polls and casting their ballots to elect a new president. Over 94 million ballots have been cast in the lead-up to todays election, according to NBC News. Early voting and mail-in voting totals already make up roughly two-thirds of all votes cast in 2016. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic Party, are up against Republicans Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Voters arent just deciding who the next President and Vice President will be. They will also decide who will fill 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate. Within the Senate, the GOP is defending 23 seats. Furthermore, thirteen state and territorial governorships, as well as many other state and local elections, are up for grabs. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons is a civil rights icon and was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, known as SNCC. Zoharah is also Professor Emerita of African American and Islamic Studies, University of Florida. David Ayala is the National Organizer of the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement. His movement is a network of over 50 civil and human rights organizations that are led by people who are living with criminal records, and their family members. Ed Fallon is an activist, politician, talk show host, and author. For the past 13 years, Mr. Fallons work has focused on the climate crisis, including leading the Great March for Climate Action on a 3,000-mile trek across the US in 2014. Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she taught for 25 years. The former president of the National Lawyers Guild and criminal defense attorney is a legal scholar and political analyst who writes books and articles, and lectures throughout the world about human rights, US foreign policy, and the contradiction between the two.

Today on Sojourner Truth, our Election Day special. Our guests are Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, David Ayala, Ed Fallon, Marjorie Cohn. As we speak, millions of people across the United States are heading to the polls and casting their ballots to elect a new president. Over 94 million ballots have been cast in the lead-up to todays election, according to NBC News. Early voting and mail-in voting totals already make up roughly two-thirds of all votes cast in 2016. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic Party, are up against Republicans Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Voters arent just deciding who the next President and Vice President will be. They will also decide who will fill 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate. Within the Senate, the GOP is defending 23 seats. Furthermore, thirteen state and territorial governorships, as well as many other state and local elections, are up for grabs. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons is a civil rights icon and was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, known as SNCC. Zoharah is also Professor Emerita of African American and Islamic Studies, University of Florida. David Ayala is the National Organizer of the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement. His movement is a network of over 50 civil and human rights organizations that are led by people who are living with criminal records, and their family members. Ed Fallon is an activist, politician, talk show host, and author. For the past 13 years, Mr. Fallons work has focused on the climate crisis, including leading the Great March for Climate Action on a 3,000-mile trek across the US in 2014. Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she taught for 25 years. The former president of the National Lawyers Guild and criminal defense attorney is a legal scholar and political analyst who writes books and articles, and lectures throughout the world about human rights, US foreign policy, and the contradiction between the two.

Today on Sojourner Truth, our Election Day special. Our guests are Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, David Ayala, Ed Fallon, Marjorie Cohn. As we speak, millions of people across the United States are heading to the polls and casting their ballots to elect a new president. Over 94 million ballots have been cast in the lead-up to todays election, according to NBC News. Early voting and mail-in voting totals already make up roughly two-thirds of all votes cast in 2016. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic Party, are up against Republicans Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Voters arent just deciding who the next President and Vice President will be. They will also decide who will fill 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate. Within the Senate, the GOP is defending 23 seats. Furthermore, thirteen state and territorial governorships, as well as many other state and local elections, are up for grabs. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons is a civil rights icon and was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, known as SNCC. Zoharah is also Professor Emerita of African American and Islamic Studies, University of Florida. David Ayala is the National Organizer of the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement. His movement is a network of over 50 civil and human rights organizations that are led by people who are living with criminal records, and their family members. Ed Fallon is an activist, politician, talk show host, and author. For the past 13 years, Mr. Fallons work has focused on the climate crisis, including leading the Great March for Climate Action on a 3,000-mile trek across the US in 2014. Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she taught for 25 years. The former president of the National Lawyers Guild and criminal defense attorney is a legal scholar and political analyst who writes books and articles, and lectures throughout the world about human rights, US foreign policy, and the contradiction between the two.

Today on Sojourner Truth, our Election Day special. Our guests are Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, David Ayala, Ed Fallon, Marjorie Cohn. As we speak, millions of people across the United States are heading to the polls and casting their ballots to elect a new president. Over 94 million ballots have been cast in the lead-up to todays election, according to NBC News. Early voting and mail-in voting totals already make up roughly two-thirds of all votes cast in 2016. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic Party, are up against Republicans Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Voters arent just deciding who the next President and Vice President will be. They will also decide who will fill 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate. Within the Senate, the GOP is defending 23 seats. Furthermore, thirteen state and territorial governorships, as well as many other state and local elections, are up for grabs. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons is a civil rights icon and was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, known as SNCC. Zoharah is also Professor Emerita of African American and Islamic Studies, University of Florida. David Ayala is the National Organizer of the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement. His movement is a network of over 50 civil and human rights organizations that are led by people who are living with criminal records, and their family members. Ed Fallon is an activist, politician, talk show host, and author. For the past 13 years, Mr. Fallons work has focused on the climate crisis, including leading the Great March for Climate Action on a 3,000-mile trek across the US in 2014. Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she taught for 25 years. The former president of the National Lawyers Guild and criminal defense attorney is a legal scholar and political analyst who writes books and articles, and lectures throughout the world about human rights, US foreign policy, and the contradiction between the two.

Today on Sojourner Truth, our Election Day special. Our guests are Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons, David Ayala, Ed Fallon, Marjorie Cohn. As we speak, millions of people across the United States are heading to the polls and casting their ballots to elect a new president. Over 94 million ballots have been cast in the lead-up to todays election, according to NBC News. Early voting and mail-in voting totals already make up roughly two-thirds of all votes cast in 2016. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, representing the Democratic Party, are up against Republicans Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Voters arent just deciding who the next President and Vice President will be. They will also decide who will fill 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate. Within the Senate, the GOP is defending 23 seats. Furthermore, thirteen state and territorial governorships, as well as many other state and local elections, are up for grabs. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons is a civil rights icon and was a member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, known as SNCC. Zoharah is also Professor Emerita of African American and Islamic Studies, University of Florida. David Ayala is the National Organizer of the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement. His movement is a network of over 50 civil and human rights organizations that are led by people who are living with criminal records, and their family members. Ed Fallon is an activist, politician, talk show host, and author. For the past 13 years, Mr. Fallons work has focused on the climate crisis, including leading the Great March for Climate Action on a 3,000-mile trek across the US in 2014. Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she taught for 25 years. The former president of the National Lawyers Guild and criminal defense attorney is a legal scholar and political analyst who writes books and articles, and lectures throughout the world about human rights, US foreign policy, and the contradiction between the two.

I was recently invited by The President to the White House for a reception celebrating the passing of The First Step Act.  It was an emotional event commemorating the early release of many non-violent criminals who were sent away for decades after being given unfair sentences.  One of those people, a guy named Troy Powell calls into the podcast to tell us what it was like to go from wearing a prison jumpsuit in the big house last month to standing on stage with the President in the East Room of the White House.   We also talk to Louis L. Reed, who is the National Organizer of a criminal justice reform advocacy group called #Cut50.  But the whole show kicks off with a “Roast In Peace” tribute to the great Nipsy Hussell.  Life is tough. We're getting through it together.  Additional Material: Ed Larson Kevin Schini  Make sure to send your feedback to thickskinwithjeffross@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram @thickskinwithjeffross @therealjeffreyross @eddietunes @troy.powell @heinspires4real